Pending Massachusetts Zoning Code Bill Would 'Promote Sustainable Communities'

The editorial calls the bill a crucial opportunity to shape Massachusetts’ future: "The measure would provide a boost to the economy by encouraging more housing construction near town centers, while also aiding local efforts to preserve open space."

The editorial acknowledges that reforming the zoning code has been an onerous process, and that many homeowners prefer the devil they know to the devil they don't know. "But," says the editorial, "more than their interests are at stake, and by passing the bill the Legislature would be supporting the broader public interest. Massachusetts needs more reasonably priced housing, and it needs more environmentally sensible development."